Manchester United's summer tour of America is now complete after a fixture against Spanish giants Real Madrid was announced.
The Reds are heading Stateside in July and will play four matches across the pond. And Real have become the final opposition to be confirmed. The two sides will meet in Houston at the NRG stadium on July 26.
Manchester United’s football director, John Murtough, said: “This is a huge game for our fans in the US, giving them a unique opportunity to witness first-hand one of the greatest fixtures in world football. We last visited Houston in 2017 when we played Manchester City in front of a huge crowd, and I know this match will be just as popular.
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“Erik and his team are looking forward to spending time in the US and preparing for the new season by taking on first-class opponents such as Real Madrid. Our players will relish the opportunity to test themselves against another top European side as they get ready for the 2023/24 campaign.”
United will face Premier League rivals Arsenal in New York on July 22, before visiting Las Vegas on July 30 for a match against German giants Borussia Dortmund. The club will also take on newly-crowned National League champions Wrexham in San Diego on July 25.
It will be the eighth time the club has visited the States over the last two decades, and here is the latest on the club's pre-season plans:
When are the games
United play Arsenal in America for the first time on July 22 at MetLife Stadium in New York. A predominantly Academy team will then face Wrexham in San Diego on July 25 before the first-team meet Madrid on July 26. A match with Dortmund in Vegas on July 30 concludes the tour. The Premier League confirmed in November that the 2023/24 season starts on 12 August, and the tour will take place in July, with United set to return to Manchester in early August to ramp up their preparations for the new season.
Where will United's matches be?
Confirmed:
- Arsenal (at MetLife Stadium, New York)
- Wrexham (at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego)
- Real Madrid (at the NRG stadium, Houston)
- Dortmund (at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas)
Is it on TV in UK and US?
United's pre-season matches will be live and exclusive on MUTV. Annual passes are available for £29.99 and include an initial seven-day free trial, or £7.99 for an individual month, which will likely cover the whole pre-season programme.
How can I get tickets?
Tickets for the Wrexham friendly are now sold out or only available on secondary websites. Tickets for the Dortmund game remain available as do tickets for the Arsenal game. Tickets for the Real Madrid game go on pre-sale to fans who have pre-registered and Manchester United Season Ticket Holders, Official Members and Executive Club Members from 4pm on May 17, before going on general sale from 4pm on May 19.
What happened last time?
United last visited America in 2018 and played five matches, including three as part of the now-defunct International Champions Cup. Jose Mourinho's side faced Mexican side Club América and Major League Soccer outfit San Jose Earthquakes. Matches against Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid followed before United ended their pre-season preparations back in Europe against Bayern Munich.
What have United said about the 2023 tour?
United's football director John Murtough said: “This will be our first visit to the US for five years and everyone at the club is looking forward to it, especially the players, who love the high-quality facilities, the welcoming atmosphere and passionate support of our large US fanbase.
"As well as engaging with our fans, Tour 23 will give Erik and his squad the opportunity to reconnect with each other after the summer break and prepare for the restart of the Premier League. We’ve worked with the manager and his staff to create training camps with the best sporting facilities available, as well as a mix of competitive opponents to play, ensuring that the whole squad will have the best opportunity to gain fitness and playing time during their time in the US.
"Tour 2023 will not only see the return of our senior players to training and playing, but there will also be valuable opportunities for up-and-coming talent from our academy to experience life within the first team environment – and for our US fans to see some potential stars of the future. We know that Manchester United and the Premier League in general are growing in popularity across the US, so we are looking forward to building on this connection this summer."
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